Hearing-impaired speak up for their rights

ALTHOUGH equal access to information and full inclusion in the workplace are global human rights, little thereof is the reality for South Africans who are deaf or hearing impaired, says the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCDP). The World Health Organisation figures show that around 7.8-million people in South Africa experience hearing loss, and of these, about 3.5-million have disabling hearing loss.

Fanie du Toit, public education and awareness manager at the NCPD, says “persons with disabilities have been marginalised for many years, and the deaf or hearing-impaired community – who experience hearing loss but rely primarily on spoken communication – has been excluded for even longer.”

“During the Hearing Awareness Month, the NCPD calls for the recognition and use of different ways to bridge communication gaps between hearing people and persons who are deaf or hearing impaired. The use of technology beyond hearing aids, such as loop systems, and/or the support of communication facilitators like lip speakers or note takers can make a big difference during interaction, said Du Toit.

The NCPD said despite government’s White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which protects the right of access to information and communication it was disappointed that the recent screening of the State of the Nation Address 2017 ignored the rights of the deaf or hearing impaired persons needing captioning to enjoy equal access to television broadcasts – this despite the NCPD’s communication with role-players in this regard since 2015 to have the situation turned around.

“Captioning is a constitutional right and broadcasters should take appropriate measures to make sure captions are used, particularly when televising issues of national importance.”

Exclusion socially isolates individuals or groups by not allowing them to fully participate in national dialogue and society, which is to the detriment of the entire community and ultimately does not support those experiencing hearing loss to come forward.”said Du Toit.

In 2007, South Africa signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This includes the reasonable accommodation of persons with sensory impairment (in this case, hearing) to reduce the impact on their capacity to, for example, perform the essential functions of a job.

The NGO says contrary to what many employers believe, a South African sign language interpreter is not always the solution and it is important to consider that the experience of hearing loss differs from individual to individual. For those relying on speech to communicate, there are options like assistive technology and communications facilitators, such as note takers, that can give support in meetings.

“Until recently, many of these individuals had nowhere to turn. Thankfully, the NCPD is equipped and ready to help empower them to address previous inequalities,” added Du Toit.

The NCPD calls on South Africans to broaden their view of communication with persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, and on all who experience hearing loss to get in touch at nationaloffice@ncppdsa.org.za.

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